Can end curling ring



Dec. 7 1937. w. E. BURNS CAN END CURLING RING Filed Jan. 22, 1955 INVENTOR M/ 1 Ewe/v0 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFEE M. J. B. 00.

Application January 22, 1935, Serial No. 2,846

5 Claims. (01. 15359) This invention relates to can end curling machines and more particularly to improvement in the details of construction of the curling die, as used in such machines, against which the can ends are rolled to form the peripheral, inwardly curled flange thereon preparatory to their being double seamed onto can bodies.

It will here be stated, explanatory to the invention, that curlers for this purpose now generally in use comprise a stationary, rotatably driven wheel and a curling die or ring, or larger diameter, encircling and spaced, from the wheel in a manner to receive the can ends edgewise between them. The wheel and ring are formed with cooperating grooves designed to receive the opposite, peripheral edges of the can ends, and the driving action of the wheel causes the ends, when so received, to be rolled along the die. The grooves of the wheel and die have rounded bases,

0 and the die is located slightly eccentric of the wheel so that the space between them is gradually, slightly decreased in the direction of travel of the can ends, and this decrease results in pressure being applied to the peripheral edges of the ends to cause them to be formed with the inwardly curled, peripheral edges. The extent of curling of the flange is determined jointly by the particular shaping or formation of the grooves and upon the adjustment of the die with respect' to the wheel. Ordinarily, the die is of one piece construction.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide an improved type of curling die whereby the formation of the curl may be more accurately determined and whereby the curling pressure may be applied to any extent desired and at any location along the extent of the die.

Another object of the invention resides in the formation of a curling die of segmental construction thereby to provide for greater flexibility of adjustment.

Still another object is to provide a segmental die with which an aligning spline is associated to insure accurate alinement of the segments.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction which provide for easy assembly of parts, easy disassembly for repair or replacement and economy in manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a can end curling machine embodying a curling die construction in Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view particularly illustrating the disposition of grooves in the curling wheel and die and the formation of the curl on the can end.

Referring more in detail to the drawing- In the present machine, the can ends, designated by reference numeral 5, are delivered to the curling machine from a guide way 2 formed by spaced parallel guide bars 3 and l having their interior or adjacent faces formed with grooves 5 and B, respectively, as seen best in Fig. 3, for receiving the opposite edges of the can ends to guide them in their travel to the curling mechanism.

The curling mechanism proper comprises a stationary, rotatably driven wheel 8 supported and driven by a shaft 9 revoluble in a bearing It], as shown in Fig. 2'. Spaced from the wheel and located in the same plane therewith, is a curling die l2; this die being secured, as presently described, upon a base plate is which underlies the wheel, as seen in Fig. l and 2. The

curling die in this instance comprises a semicircular bar, divided radially into a plurality of segments l2a. of equal length. In the present instance the die comprises eight segments and is formed along its under side with a continuous groove I 4, and fitted in this groove is a continuous, metallic spline I6 which functions as a key to keep the several segments in exact and proper alinement. However, the spline it has sufficient flexibility to permit of the necessary adjustment of the die to effect the curling operation desired.

By reference to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the die rests flatly upon the plate l3, and that the spline I6 is held within the groove I l by the underlying base plate. Each segment I2a of the die is fixed to the base plate I3 by a bolt is and the bolts are extended upwardly through openings I9 in the base plate and are threaded into the segment of the die. The openings !9 in the base plate are larger than the bolts so as to permit of the desired inward or outward adjustment of the segments relative to the wheel 8.

Encircling the wheel 8 is a peripheral groove 20, and formed along the inner surface of the die I2 is a continuous groove 2|; these grooves being in the same plane and are adapted to receive therein the opposite edges of the can end flange.

When the can ends I are delivered to the machine from between the guide bars 3 and 4, they are received between the wheel 8 and die l2 and are supported by diametrically opposite edges in the grooves of these two parts, as seen in Fig. 1. Prior to being delivered to the curling machine, the can ends are formed with peripheral flanges f, as seen in Fig. 3, which are substantially at right angles to the plane of the end. The spacing of the die l2 from the wheel at the receiving end of the curler is such that the ends will be loosely received; the die, however, is adjusted so that this space is gradually decreased toward the discharge end of the curler; therefore, with the wheel rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon in Fig. 1, the can ends are rolled along the die and pressure is gradually applied to the can flanges thereby to curl them inwardly and form them to the bases of the grooves so that they assume the inwardly curled form as shown in Fig. 4.

As the can ends are delivered from the curling die, they pass into a discharge guide way 25 formed by two parallel grooved bars 26 and 21 between which they are guided from the machine.

The feature of this invention resides in the provision of the curling die l2 of this character made in plurality of short segments which permit easy and accurate adjustment relative to wheel 8 so that curling pressure may be applied to the can ends at anypoint along the die and to any desired extent. It is manifest that if the die l2 was a solid piece, an inward or outward adjustment at any one point would affect the adjustment along its entire length; however, in this instance, the adjustment of any part is possible without materially affecting any other part. For example, the setting of the die from its receiving end substantially to the delivery end might be the same and the last segments only set to effect the application of curling pressure, or the main curling pressure might be applied at the start of the operation and'then gradually relieved. Furthermore, it is apparent that there is no possibility of the segments becoming out of alinement for the reason that the spline l6 prevents this; however, since the spline is of relatively small cross sectional area it can be easily sprung for any of the desired adjustments of the die.

There is an added advantage in this type of construction in that, if any part of the die becomes worn, it may be easily removed for replacement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In a can end curler of the character described, the combination with a revolubly driven curling wheel, of a curling die spaced from the.

wheel to receive the can ends between them for curling; said die comprising a plurality of arcuate segments in end to end relationship and a spline applied to said die lengthwise of the segments and operable to hold them in alinement.

2. In a can end curler of the character described, the combination with a revolubly driven curling wheel, of a curling die, a support for the die, whereby it is held spaced from the wheel to receive the can ends between them for curling; said die comprising a plurality of arcuate segments in end to end relationship, each having a spline receiving groove, and a yieldable spline applied to said groove to hold said segments in functional alinement; and means anchoring said segments individually to said support and permitting adjustment of the die toward or from the wheel and independent adjustment of the segments thereof relative to the Wheel.

3. A can end curler comprising, a revolubly driven curling wheel with a peripheral groove, a curling die spaced therefrom and having a longitudinal groove facing the wheel to receive the can ends in said grooves of the wheel and die for curling, a base plate supporting the die; said die comprising a plurality of short arcuate segments, each formed on its under side with a spline groove, a resilient spline fitted in said grooves and extending the length of the die and for adjustment of the die, and bolts adjustably securing said die segments individually to the base for individual adjustment toward or from the wheel as is permitted by the resiliency of the spline.

4. In a can end curler, an a-djustably fixed curling die along which the can ends may be rolled for the curling operation; said die comprising a plurality of separate sections in end to 

